Optical instrument



Patented `Non'. 6, 1928- ormoni. rusrnvmr.

Application -led Jfime 27,

This invention relates t'o an instrument for producing and recordingmobi-1e color-effects.

In particular, it 1s my ob]ec't:to obtain designs of changing color andform by'project'f ing objects, particularly crystals, means of'polarized licht, the nature of the light and the position of theobjects being both change, able.- Extremely varied, fantastic andrichly' colored effects are thus obtainable. These designs particularlywhen reproduced by a color motion picture process, can be projected forpurposesof entertainment; theyA can be used as color settings forbackground or scenic efl'ects for dramatic and motion pictureproductions, as backgrounds for titles used for motion pictures,advertising, or announcement purposes, and in many other ways.

Refer-ence will now be made to the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. l is a diagram -o an optical system.

Fig.2 is -a schematic showing of .an instrw ment embodying my invention.

Fig. 3 shows the detail'of the adjustable mounting of the designed disc.

A simple diagram is used -in Fig. 1 to illustrate the essential elementsof the optical system. represents a' sourcevof light,R a reflector, andL, a condenser system, which illuminates evenly plane F, at which may beplaced a diapl1ragm, title or design, the image of' which is reproducedby an objective L2 at plane F2, at or near a seco-nd condenser systemL3. The image at F, is magnified and projected by any suitable opticalSystem, here shown as separated groups 'of lenses L4 and. L upona screenat F3. In the path of the beam -and et any desired points von oppositesides of the plane Fz--are inserted two polarizing devices, su'ch asNicol risms, l? and A, 'constituting a polarizer andD analyzerrespectively. By relative 'rotation of these,the pro- -jected images ofldesigns composed of doubly refractive material such as certain types ofcrystals, are colored. Noticeably brilliant 4 colors are obtained ifthe'light is elliptically polarized as by inserting a suitable plate Eacross-the beam at any point.

The color effects and the brillian'cy may be changed byfro'tation ofoneor more of the clemenfs P, A and E or hy their relative angularmovement, the designs remaining fixed as to form, I' lthe designs are mofed, there. will of course also result changes of `form and if thedesign carry-ing plate is large relative to 1924. Vsemi mi. 722,831.

' the fielda nd carries objects of different light `transmittingcharacteristics, as for instance an assortment of crystals, ayariedchanging display of .colorant form is produced; The

4magnification would depend on the-particular design ofl the opticalsystem, but if the v object carried at F2 were small crystals, theoptical system could be that of any-micrographi'c outfit, L3 being aVsuhstage condenser, L, a micro-objective and L5 a projection eyepieceor lens system. The images projected at F, can be used for any desiredpurpose,A

either for direct inspection or photographic reproduction. A fixed titleor design may be positioned at Fhfo'r which 'the pro'ected design wouldconstitute a backgroun It is to-be understood that wherever I refer to alens, there would in practice be a lens system comprising whatever'combination of elements .best fills the particular `requirements; In Fig. 2, I have shown, largely71 diagrammatically, an arrangement embodyingg the above syste-in which has been found useful in practice. In thisfigure, the relative spacing between the elements has .been muchshortened in order to give -a .compact and understandable diagram.,Moreoven the casing, supports and such other mechanical details, aswould be necessary in an instrument but would only confuse the showing,have been omitted and'only those'essential relations andarran gementsdisclosed as are useful to 4an understanding of the invention.

y In' this figure the vsame optical elements are shown and aredesignated as in F ig. 1. T he polarizer P, is shown as .between thelenses L, and L, instead of between L2 and L it being immaterial wherethis is placed as long as it is between the light and the plane F, Forconvenience of structure of the instrument, reflecting prisms R, and R,"are insorted in the-besmet convenient points, here shown as between Lzand L, andbct'ween' and Fr At the position Fzis mounted the designplate; This is here shown as 'comprising a round light transmitting disc0, which is covered with designs, deposited ',cr'rstals'or the like,thedesigns being prcferbly nonsym metrical and mergingone into anotherin every direction. This disc is in .an annular frame l' with external'gear teeth 2 around its entire periphery. These-'mesh with idlepositioning pinions. 3 carriedon the plate which iis guided at oneedgeby the lugs slidi'ng in the channel bar 6,.:1nd at the oppositciedge byeyes slidably engaging-around shaft 8, and

bylixgsl 4sliding infchannel bar 10. Slidably but 'non rotalably mountedon shaft 8 is worm 11, engaging gear'tceth 2. Upon one .end of the shaft8 is a bevel gear wheel 1 6. Plate 4 is adjustable as a whole by rod l2,the screw threads 13 o f which engage in :i thread-ed eye in support 14,and which may be turned by handle 15. It is obvious that by turningshalt 8 and handle`15 any arca such as A or B'ol' the disc'O can bebrought to projection positions in line with the optical axis of theinstrument. The prism P is carried in the mount 1G, carrying theperipheral gear 18 driven by -pinion 19. The risn A is carried inthenlount 2O carrying t ie peripheral gear 21 driven by pinion 2 2. Theplate E is carried in mount 23 carrying the peripheral gear 24 driven bypinion 25. The gears 1S, 21 and 24 are supported and uided in suitableframes 26, 27, 28 respectivly.

A diaphragm, vignette, orfdesign such as a title may be?. laced in theframe 2:) at E, and as already noted the combined image is projected onthe .lighttransmittingscreen F where a frame-30 is provided for the lo-.cation of any desired designs, such as titles. The resultant image mayviewed or photographed. In a position ,from which photographs of thescreen may be made is placed a camera 33, preferably a motion picturecolor camera, the details of which constitute no part o the presentinvention. It is shown as including film reels and 36, film 37', lenses3 8, light splitting,r prisms 39, and a pulldown! mechanism 31 driven byshaft 32.

The various movable elements above dcs'cribed may be driven from acommon' .source such as an electric motor 40. On the motor shaft are agear' pinion 41, and a broken gear Q, having teeth upon a .segment onlyof its periphery. .A shaft'43 carries a slee-ve 44 carrying gear 46which will mesh with gear '41 when the sleeve is in one position, andgear 47 which will mesh with 42 when the sleeve is in its otherposition. Shaft 43 will thus be driven with either a continuous or intermittent motion. This shat'is in line with y is closed and the shaft 43is rotatingr continuously themotion picture camerais driven in the usualmanner, but when the shaft v43 is rotating intermittently, the camerawill give a. relatively long exposure between successive 'lmovements ofthe film 3,7.

Shaft 43 carries a bevel gear 50 meshing `with bevel gear 51 on shaft52, which has a clutch connection 53 controlled by handle 54 tively,c-a'rried on sha t (33.,` This shaft is slid- 76 ably mounted with'reSpct to pinion 25 beingmoved by means of handle 64.' Similarly fgears 59 and G0 are engagable with gears 65 and 6G, respectively, onshaft 67 which is,

slidable with respect to pinion 22 and is con- 75 trolled bv handle 68.Gears 59 and G0 are also c ngageabl'e with gear 69 and 70, respectively,carried on sleeve 7l which -is slidably adjusted on shaft 72 by meansofhandlc 73. Shaft 72 carries bevel gear 74 meshing with gear 75 80carried'on shaft 7G which carries pinion 19. Each o f the handles 64, 68and 73 has three positions to engage one or the other of the yrespectivepairs of gears or to disengage both. Since the gear ratios of theseveral pairs 'are dierent, -the elements P, A and E can be givenvarying angular movements or be stopped; and the plate O can be rotatedor' adjusted when desired.

In connection with Fig. 2 it is lo be under- 99 stood that themechanical connections are shown in asimple fornzal way, and that inpractice more complicated mechanism, the details of which are not a partof my invention, will preferably be used. The gear trains i willpreferably be such as to move the rotating -mcmbers at a low angularspeed. i

The operator will place a prepared plate at O-and connect for continuousrotation such of the elements as he wishes. He will then watch theprojected images at Fr When these are of a satisfactory1 character, hewill throw in -the motion picture color camera. i-3:5,-v

and .record the projected image; If the illumination is sullicientlybrilliant, these will 1015` be-reeordedin the usual way. If the magni-'Iication is frreat, or the polariz'er's are so set as to pass lint.little light, the projected images will be dim and the handle 45 willbe thrown to' connect gears 42 and 47, whereupon 110 each part connectedfor movement will be given :in-angular movement followed by a relativelylong exposure of the camera', and then another angular movement duringwhich the' film is advanced in the camera.. 115

By'throwing the different .clutches the operator can trydiilcrent-eects'and have a wideran'g'e of oolo'r designs from which toselect.

Ii the design at 29 is an :Qpaquexed title, :|29

or if affixed title or design is placed at 30, there will be producedatthe projection screen a fixed design with a changeable backgrounddesign, the change being in color, orform, or

boia-'projected by-pelarimdiight. n is 0i m' vious that when any of.thc-rotatable elements are disconnected from the motor drive, they canbe carefully 'and .indepehdently adjusted .by hand.

*v The record 'will-be reproduced by any de- 'Iso ...www

' sii-ed 'roces's preferably as registering d-i'ferk -ential ycoloredimages 'on opposite sides of- 11 double coated motion picture film'. i

lThe embodiment of my invention has purposely been sliownand describedin a'simple manner in order thereby to make the invention clear andunobscured by a. mass of immaterial detail, only such structure beingshown asis lnecessary to enjablean instrument maker'to design anoperative apparatus; but it is to be understood that numerous varia,'tions are possible and I contemplate as within the scope of myinvention :ill such modifications -and equivalent as are. includedwithin the terms of the claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire toobtain by Letters Patent is: f

. l. An instrument comprising a source of light, :in optical system forevenly illuminating acertain planeand for projecting images from such aplane, means for positioning a. design carrying member -at such a plane,light polarizing means in the path of the light, a color recordingmotion picture cum-V era for makinga moti-on picture color record ofsuch pro ected images, und .means for simultaneous y changing thecharacter of the projected polarized light and operating the 3o motionpicture camera.

2. An instrument comprising ii source of light, an optical system forevenly illuminat- .infr acertain lane and for ro'ectinif imagestherefrom, means for positioning at said plane objects capable ofproducing color iniages, a p uiality of light ola'riz'ing means in suchsystem and indepenc ciitly adjustable to vary the color effects of theprojected ima-ges, a. motion pictiiie`color camera vfor recording theprojected images and a connection for-adjusting at least one of thepolarizing means when the camera is operating.

3. An instrument comprisin'sI a. source of light, an optical systemforilluininatin'g a' certain pleneand-'orprojected images there?l imm,-m'eans for supporting a doubly refracting object in such pla-ne, aplurality of adjustiiblelightp larizingfelcrrients in suoli'. 'systemwhereby cf aiigeiib-le color effects may be produced, a color recordingnictionpictu're camera positioned toreco'rd `,the projcctedimages,andmeans for simultaneouslyv operating.

the camera and adjusting. the polarizing ele'- a ments.

4. The process lof-makin?r .-h-avi-ng changeable vand strik-ing-crizlor'iilracteristics that -comprisesl the` steps of projecting#light `through a. dou-bly refracting object, polarizing at least twicethe light thus project/ed, moving the obj eeft dur-ing such I )iojec-`light, an optical system for even-ly illuminat' l ing a certainplaneiiiid for projecting images therefrom, a plurality of independently'acljustzible iight polarizing means in such sys# teni, amotion picturecolor camera for recording the project-ed images and a' connection forad] ustingat least one of the polarizing meanswhen the-'camera isoperating.

6. Anf instru-ment comprising a source of light, .an optical system forilluiniiiatinga certain plane and for projecting images there#- from,means-for supporting an object in' such plane, a plurality of adjustablelight polarizi-iig elements in such system', a ooior recording motionpicture camera' positioned to record the projected imagesand-means'fori-m niultriiieously operating the ycamera and adjusting thepolarizing elements.

Signed at Rochester, New ifo-rie this isih day of June, 199A, l .l

ADBIAAN P, TRIVELLI.

